Article: History of

U.S.-Cuba Relations

This past December, President Obama announced the

decision to reopen diplomatic and economic relations

with Cuba. Diplomatic ties have been officially

severed for decades, and the relationship of the U.S.

and Cuba has a long and confusing history. Through

eleven presidencies, Americans have watched the

countrys relationship with Cuba worsen, as both sides

have been reluctant to make concessions to the

other.

The Beginning

Fidel Castro first took power in Cuba in 1959. Later

that year, he visited the United States and met with

Vice President Nixon. At this time, both countries were

still establishing their diplomatic relationship, but the

American government was wary of some of Castros

communistic rhetoric.

Things took a decisive turn in 1960 when Castro not

only continued to strengthen his relationship with the

Soviet Union, but also nationalized all American

companies in Cuba and provided no compensation. It

was at this time that the U.S. cut relations and imposed

the first trade embargo on Cuba.

ties = connections,

relationships

severed = cut off

presidencies = time

periods of each

president

reluctant = not

willing to

make concessions =

give the other side

something it wants

wary = cautious,

slightly suspicious

rhetoric =

communication

things took a

decisive turn = things

began clearly going in

a particular direction

nationalized = made

them the property of

the national

government

trade embargo = a

barrier to importing

or exporting to/from

that country

Vocabulary

The Bay of Pigs

In 1961, President Kennedy approved the Bay of Pigs

mission where the U.S. government helped support an

attempted invasion by Cuban exiles. Fidel Castro

easily defeated the U.S.-backed army and began more

openly supporting the Soviet Union. This became only

the first of eight U.S. attempts in the 1960s to oust

Castro. Each obviously ended in failure.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, Cuba and the Soviet Union agreed to house

Soviet nuclear missiles on the island. The U.S. released

photos of the missile silos and began an international

standoff with the Soviet Union. Though many feared a

nuclear war would begin, both sides were able to

deescalate the situation by agreeing to remove the

Soviet missiles in Cuba and the U.S. missiles in Turkey.

Mariel Boatlift

When the U.S. government said that it would welcome

Cuban refugees, it resulted in the Mariel boatlift of

1980. This was the largest arrival of Cuban refugees at

one time, as approximately 125,000 people arrived on

American shores. It is suspected that many of these

people were individuals who Castro willingly freed

from his prisons and mental institutions in order to

send them to the U.S.

exiles = people who

were forced out of

the country

U.S.-backed =

supported by the

U.S.

oust = force

someone out of a

position of power

standoff = when two

forces of similar

power face each

other without taking

action

deescalate =

decrease the

intensity

refugees = people

who leave a country

because of war or

poverty

shores = the part of

the land near the

ocean

Vocabulary

Wet Foot, Dry Foot

Eventually the U.S. government adopted the wet foot,

dry foot policy, which indicated that if refugees

arrived on U.S. soil, they could stay. Refugees that

were caught before they reached the shore were sent

back.

Slight changes to refugee policies, cultural exchange,

and remittances have been made in the last twenty

years. Despite all these tweaks, the situation remained

the same as it has for over four decades.

President Obamas decision ushers in a new age for

U.S.-Cuba relations. This could mean greater cultural

and economic exchange as well as the improvement of

lives for the poorest in Cuba. However, it is still too

early to tell.

Read more about the history of U.S.-Cuba relations:

soil = in this context,

another word for

land or territory

remittances = the

sending of money to

someone at a

distance

tweaks = tiny

changes and

adjustments

ushers in a new age

= begins a new time

period

it is still too early to

tell = in this case,

tell means know

by observation

Vocabulary

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/17/371405620/the-u-s-and-cuba-a-

brief-history-of-a-tortured-relationship

Comprehension Questions

1. The U.S. was suspicious because of Castro's...

a. desire to attack the U.S.

b. history of manipulation and violence

c. ideas and philosophy

2. Which country cut off the relations?

a. Cuba

b. The U.S.

c. The Soviet Union

3. The U.S. tried eight times to...

a. remove Castro from power

b. get spies into the Cuban government

c. break up the alliance between Cuba and the Soviet Union

4. The missile crisis in 1962 was resolved by...

a. agreeing to relax the economic sanctions

b. both sides agreeing to remove missiles

c. threatening nuclear war

5. U.S. policy said that Cubans could stay if...

a. they agreed never to go back

b. they stepped onto U.S. land

c. they renounced allegiance to Castro

6. The article concludes that because of the decision to re-establish

relations...

a. life will improve for Cubans soon

b. more U.S. citizens will visit Cuba

c. we dont know yet what the effects will be

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/17/371405620/the-u-s-and-cuba-a-brief-history-of-a-tortured-relationshiphttp://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/17/371405620/the-u-s-and-cuba-a-brief-history-of-a-tortured-relationship

Vocabulary Quiz

Complete the sentences with words from the box:

backed reluctant ties

concessions severed tweaks

presidencies shore wary

refugees

1. ___________________ from the war are pouring into neighboring countries.

2. Doctors are ___________________ of this new weight-loss drug; it hasn't been

thoroughly tested yet.

3. Don't swim too far out - stay close to ___________________.

4. He survived the accident, but his left leg was ___________________ below the knee.

5. She was adopted as a baby and she has no ___________________ with her

biological parents.

6. The economy has been strong throughout the past three ___________________.

7. The editor would like to make a few ___________________ to the article before

publication.

8. This is a big decision; I'm ___________________ to make it until I have more

information.

9. This organization is very strong. It's ___________________ by a number of

influential politicians.

10. You can't have your own way all the time when you're in a relationship. You

have to make some ___________________ to your partner.

Listening Practice

Fill in the boxes as you listen. Then check your answers with the full article text.

This past December, President Obama ___________________________ the decision to

reopen diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba. Diplomatic ties have been

officially severed for decades, and the relationship of the U.S. and Cuba has a long

and ___________________________ history. Through eleven presidencies, Americans have

watched the countrys relationship with Cuba ___________________________, as both sides

have been reluctant to make concessions to the other.

The Beginning

Fidel Castro first ___________________________ power in Cuba in 1959. Later that year, he

visited the United States and met with Vice President Nixon. At this time, both

countries were still ___________________________ their diplomatic relationship, but the

American government was wary of some of Castros communistic rhetoric.

Things took a decisive turn in 1960 when Castro not only continued to

___________________________ his relationship with the Soviet Union, but also nationalized

all American companies in Cuba and provided no ___________________________. It was at

this time that the U.S. cut relations and imposed the first trade embargo on Cuba.

The Bay of Pigs

In 1961, President Kennedy approved the Bay of Pigs ___________________________

where the U.S. government helped support an attempted invasion by Cuban exiles.

Fidel Castro easily ___________________________ the U.S.-backed army and began more

openly supporting the Soviet Union. This became only the first of eight U.S. attempts

in the 1960s to oust Castro. Each obviously ended in ___________________________.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, Cuba and the Soviet Union ___________________________ to house Soviet nuclear

missiles on the island. The U.S. released photos of the missile silos and began an

international standoff with the Soviet Union. Though many ___________________________

a nuclear war would begin, both sides were able to deescalate the situation by

agreeing to remove the Soviet missiles in Cuba and the U.S. missiles in Turkey.

Mariel Boatlift

When the U.S. government said that it would welcome Cuban refugees, it

___________________________ in the Mariel boatlift of 1980. This was the largest arrival of

Cuban refugees at one time, as approximately 125,000 people arrived on American

shores. It is suspected that many of these people were individuals who Castro

willingly freed from his ___________________________ and mental institutions in order to

send them to the U.S.

Wet Foot, Dry Foot

Eventually the U.S. government ___________________________ the wet foot, dry foot

policy, which indicated that if refugees arrived on U.S. soil, they could stay. Refugees

that were ___________________________ before they reached the shore were sent back.

Slight changes to refugee policies, cultural ___________________________, and remittances

have been made in the last twenty years. Despite all these tweaks, the situation

___________________________ the same as it has for over four decades.

President Obamas decision ushers in a new age for U.S.-Cuba relations. This could

mean greater cultural and ___________________________ exchange as well as the

improvement of lives for the poorest in Cuba. However, it is still too early to tell.

Writing Task

The U.S., which is strongly capitalistic, was concerned about Castros communistic

beliefs. What are the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism and

communism/socialism? Which philosophy do you tend to prefer, and why?

Write 2-3 paragraphs, then send me your text at shayna@espressoenglish.net for

feedback and correction!

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Answers

Comprehension Questions

1. c 2. b

Vocabulary Quiz

1. refugees 2. wary

mailto:shayna@espressoenglish.nethttp://www.espressoenglish.net/premium

3. a 4. b 5. b 6. c

3. shore 4. severed 5. ties 6. presidencies 7. tweaks 8. reluctant 9. backed 10. concessions